By Dominique Gabriel G. Bañaga

An official of the National Labor Relations Commission (NLRC) in Bacolod City has denied the allegations of corruption and injustice within the agency.

In a radio interview, executive labor arbiter Jessie Sullano of the NLRC-Regional Arbitration Branch, said there have been no delays in implementing the Court of Appeals’ (CA) decision in favor of the complainants.

On Independence Day last week, a labor group held a rally in front of their office, accusing Sullano of corruption and injustice.

Sullano explained that the complaint was filed by Joel Santillan and other workers against First Farmers Holding Corporation.

The case was initially referred to two labor arbiters and elevated to the CA.

Based on the complainants’ computation, Sullano said they were claiming more than P100 million.

However, when the CA reviewed the case through an Amicus Curiae brief, the amount was reduced to P41 million.

He mentioned that one of the factors in the reduced computation was the period of work, considering the four-month off-milling season.

Furthermore, Sullano clarified that the submitted P100 million computation by the complainant was the same as the NLRC had computed without any specific attribution.

The official believes the document may have leaked without being properly signed.

Sullano said the rally would not resolve the issue.

The computation was based on the CA’s decision, which was accepted by the complainants and the respondents on June 8, 2023.

The parties were given 10 days to accept or reject the court’s decision, he said./DGB, WDJ